Jace

by T. A. Grey

  Gio strolled across the floor to Tia’s office. Tia stiffened from the ends of her hair down to her fingers. Even her jaw dropped open.

  “I knew it was you!” she accused when he neared. She stood, pointing a fiery red fingernail at Gio’s chest. There was something about seeing a woman go off on a man that made Jace cringe and happy at the same time. Happy that he wasn’t the one being yelled at.

  “You got me, lady. What do you want, a medal?” asked Gio.

  Jace shook his head. Bad move, he wanted to warn his friend.

  Tia heaved like she was about to burst. “Do you really think it’s socially acceptable to make lewd comments about my ass every morning when I get coffee?”

  Gio leaned against the door frame like he argued with women all the time and was settling in for it.

  A soft moan tickled Jace’s senses. He turned away from the Gio and Tia’s conversation to listen. He didn’t have to wait long. The teasing sound came again. Instantly his cock twitched. He recognized that sound. That was Mara’s moan. The sound she’d made as he’d entered her.

  Now was not the time to think of last night or what toy she might be using on herself.

  It took focus and determination, but he pushed the erotic images away from his mind. He kept his back to the door, his eyes on the surroundings, and his ears on Gio’s conversation.

  “If you don’t like what I’m saying about it then why do you keep coming to the same coffee shop over and over, lady? You know why? Because I do.”

  “No, please enlighten me,” she said sarcastically. “It can’t possibly be because they have the best coffee near my job.”

  “Nah, you go there because you know I go there. You go there wearing your hot little pants and tight little dresses because of me. Baby, you’re begging for someone to notice your perfect body and I did. So I’m just letting you know my feelings. I’m not afraid to say what I want.”

  Tia stepped up close, invading Gio’s privacy. Gio stiffened and stood up straighter. “Why you…egotistical, misogynistic—” Tia began.

  Gio leaned down to her level. He lowered his voice. “You’re telling me you don’t like it when a man tells you how gorgeous your ass is or how sexy your legs are?”

  There were several seconds before Tia responded. Her voice wavered when she spoke. “You have some flawed logic there, Ceasar.”

  He interrupted angrily, “My name is Giorgio or Gio. Not Ceasar---”

  “Anyway, as I was saying before you interrupted me with your nonsense, a real woman does not like to be told what to do like she’s a dog who needs a master. A real woman takes charge and meets a man on equal grounds.”

  Gio leaned ever closer. Jace was sure that at any moment they’d kiss; the energy was burning so hotly between them. “Oh yeah? I’d say a real woman knows when to submit to a man and take a pounding from him like a good little girl.”

  They were both breathing hard, faces bright with color, tension radiating off their shoulders in waves. The sexual undertones ripping through the room made Jace wish he didn’t have to see any of this. Though a part of him didn’t want to miss this for a second.

  Tia spoke between clenched teeth, “Like a good little girl?”

  The way she asked him to repeat that last part sounded like he might regret what he said when she was through with him.

  But did Gio fess up to talking a big game or goading her or any number of other, smarter choices he could have done? No. Not at all.

  Instead he said, “If you’re a good little girl, maybe I’ll let you come.”

  Tia’s jaw slowly dropped as a sound much like a growl came from her. Gio actually took a step backward and good thing he did too, because she slammed her office door shut with a resounding bang that would have broken Gio’s face had he not moved.

  Gio was slow to walk away. Jace fought the urge to egg his friend on to find out what that was all about, but he’d have time to do that later when he wasn’t on the job.

  The door unlocked behind him and swung open. Mara came out, looking low-lidded and sexy as hell. She looked like she’d just came. Her hair was fuzzy around her head from laying on it and her cheeks still looked pink.

  Jace’s cock saluted her at full attention. Even his balls ached.

  “One test done.” She filed passed him while holding a file to her chest. She set it on a desk, gave him a small smile, then disappeared back inside. The lock clicked. His dick took forever to go back down.

  It took that long for him because without Gio and Tia entertaining him he could hear Mara much more clearly. A soft buzzing sound came from the other side of the door and every now and then he’d catch a moan or sigh. He began waiting for those erotic little sounds, wishing for more of them. After about thirty minutes of torture, Mara opened the door again. This time she looked more bright-eyed. She marched the file to the desk.

  He couldn’t help but ask, “Was that one a no go?” He fought a smile because she might take it the wrong way.

  She nodded. “How’d you know?” Before going back inside, she stopped to hear his answer.

  “I would have heard it.”

  A blush stole over her. “Oh really? Well maybe you’ll hear the next one if I have one. I know what I’ll be thinking of.” What a tease. Jace still had no idea if he was on the ins or the outs with his woman. He knew where he wanted to be

  Don’t ask, Jace.

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  She eyed him like some delicious piece of meat she wanted to mount and ride. Mara leaned forward, wisps of blonde hair falling over her shoulder. The wicked gleam in her eyes set his pulse to race. “Sucking your cock.”

  Stunned, Jace didn’t utter a single word as she smiled and went back to work.

  This time she was louder. Noticeably louder. Jace also couldn’t do anything to stop the sweat from beading down his temple.

  Whatever product she was testing made a buzzing whirr like pencil sharpener. Her softs sighs soon became cries.

  “Oh! Oh! Ah! Ah! Yes!”

  Every little word, every shaky breath made him want to pick that lock, throw away the toy that made her feel that good, and fill her with his cock instead. That’s what she needed—him. His touch making her feel good, not some toy.

  The cries grew louder. He heard her sucking in frantic breaths as her orgasm neared. His cock was full and hard, balls snug against his body needing release. His whole package needed to be let free to cool off but he’d just have to save that for later.

  The crazy woman. If she was trying to drive him mad then it was working. The tease. She said she didn’t want him but then she teased him about sucking his cock. Jace didn’t know what to make of it.

  A few minutes later the door unlocked. She came back out wearing only a robe this time. Her hair was even more fuzzy and she could barely hold her eyes open. She shuffled to the desk, set down the folder, then shuffled back.

  Dang, he didn’t know if he could take a round four. Just as she was passing him, she grabbed his hand. Soft fingers curled around his. He was a smart enough man to follow her; his cock ached for her touch.

  She pulled him inside the room. It smelled musky and erotic like her soft pussy.

  He was on the job. “Whatever you’re doing it’s a really bad idea.” That was all he managed before she locked the door, pressed him against it, then dropped the robe.

  He grunted at what he saw. She was completely naked underneath. Perky breasts beckoning him to squeeze and touch. He wanted to fill them with his hands, suck on them, fuck them.

  “I want you,” she said, her voice a whisper.

  When she reached beneath his shirt to scrape her fingernails down his stomach he knew he couldn’t resist her. How could he when his willpower had already fled?

  Instead, he cupped her breasts, plucking her softly pointed nipples. He hadn’t really enjoyed her body like he wanted to yet. Last night had been a rushed experience that exploded because of the chemistry between them.

 
; She had a small waist and slender body with pale skin. Her sex had a thin patch of hair covering it. The sight was so hot his mouth watered. He wanted to taste her there, suck on her clit until she came.

  She pushed his shirt up and placed a kiss upon his abs. When she opened his jeans and started to push them down, he found himself helping her. The ache in his cock and balls grew heavier for each second that passed. He tried to be patient, to just be thankful she was even sliding to her knees, but the need was so great inside him, he found himself fisting his cock, grabbing the back of her head and placing the tip of him against her lips.

  “Open up, sweetheart, please.”

  Eyes that were sleepy from orgasms and arousal, slid closed as she opened her lips. He pushed in. The moist heat of her mouth teased the tip of him. Gradually her mouth opened to allow him inside; he pushed deeper then deeper. When he was seated full inside her, he could still grab the base of his shaft with his fist. She had a lovely, small mouth and the sight of her pink lips wrapped around him was something he’d never forget.

  Mara pushed his hand away and wrapped her much smaller fist around his cock. The sight stirred him.

  “Mmmff,” she moaned around his girth.

  She stripped his soul bare with her touch, had him standing before her with raw emotion blazing in his eyes. God, he liked her. Not only for her spontaneity, but her openness with herself and him. He’d never known a woman who was so free.

  “Please, Mara,” he said, needing her mouth to move. It sounded more like an order, but he was actually begging.

  She obeyed. It was the most exquisite wish he’d ever been granted.

  Her mouth performed a wicked suckling. Up and down she moved over him, pumping her fist, naked body swaying before him.

  Someone wearing high heels walked by on the other side of the door. Jace tensed but Mara’s head kept working him, sucking on his shaft.

  “God, I want you inside me,” she breathed. She kissed the top of him before swallowing him deep.

  The sensations were too much. Each little suck and pull was just begging him to shoot his body to spend. And when his thighs started to quake he knew he was almost in for it.

  Her hand slid between her legs and fluttered quickly around her clit. She was going to rub herself to orgasm while sucking his cock.

  “I never could be a vegetarian for long.”

  Jace shook his head. “Huh?” Did he just hear that correctly? Was she talking about being a vegetarian?

  She wrapped her hands around his cock and pointed it up so she could lick underneath like a lollipop. Their eyes met. “I always did like meat too much.”

  He didn’t know whether to burst out laughing or burst someplace else. He ended up choking until he got his throat cleared. “You’re too much, woman.”

  “I know,” she said sweetly. “Now why don’t you let me take care of this?”

  Mara pushed his hips and he fell back against the door like she wanted him to.

  “Very nice,” she said, almost purring. His dick twitched in her hands as she gasped in delight. “So healthy and hard. I love it.”

  “It loves you too.”

  Chuckling, she twirled her tongue around him for a playful moment. Her fist was pumping. She made muffled sounds each time she bobbed down on him. In no time at all, he had her shoulders clenched in his hands like he was holding on for dear life—and he really was—as she sucked him like a damn pro. His belly tingled, balls pulled up tight, and when his cock twitched with spurts of release in one bodily explosion of ecstasy, she drank it all down with delighted sounds. She cleaned him up with gentle motions. It gave his heart a minute to calm back down to normal levels. She nuzzled his softening cock and he cupped her cheek, something breaking inside him.

  “You’re like a little kitten.”

  Her gaze flicked up to meet his. “Kitten? Oh, I like that. If I get to be a kitten then you’re my bear.”

  “Come here.” He loved these rare moments when she was just herself and not worrying about Corey. When she was silly and smiling.

  She was the perfect height, almost a touch too short. She came right up to chest level. When he pulled her into his arms so many things felt right about her from her size and how her cheek rested perfectly against his heart to her lithe, beautiful body.

  “Did you finish?”

  Blushing, she nodded. “Yes.”

  Groaning, he grew hard again.

  But then someone knocked on the door with stern urgency.

  “Yeah, what is it?” Mara asked.

  “You better not be in there making it with your bodyguard friend, Mara Colgen.”

  Mara shut down completely at the sound of her boss’s voice. Jace could see the change come over her. The dulling of the eyes, the tension creeping into her body, the frown turning down the corners of her mouth. He wanted the other Mara back, the fun, playful one that wasn’t worried that Jace would hit her one day. If only she knew how far from the truth that was.

  “We just…I’m so sorry,” Mara said. She rushed to put on her clothes.

  His jaw jerked. Fun time was over. “Well I’m not.”

  A pained expression came over her face. “Jace…”

  “Don’t.”

  He turned and left. He almost, just almost slammed the door shit behind him. On the other side of the door wasn’t much better. He faced Gio, Tia, and Sherry. They each looked worried. Something must be wrong. He doubted their worry was about the blowjob Mara snuck him.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  Sherry cleared her throat. “We received some phone calls over the past hour. At first the calls were going to Mara’s work voicemail, but after her voicemail filled up the man identifying himself as Corey Williams started calling the front desk. .”

  Chapter 10

  Jace glanced over at Mara for at least the tenth time since they left work. She hadn’t taken the news well. Then again, who would in her situation? Immediately her eyes had dulled, her shoulders sagged, and then she nodded as if resigning to her fate. Like there was no way out. He knew that look, he’d seen it before in his mother’s eyes as his father terrorized her.

  During the time Mara had been working, her ex, Corey, had called a total of 108 times. This took place over the span of about two hours. Sometimes he’d hang up. Sometimes he left voice messages. Those were what had Jace worried. He was escalating dangerously fast. Luckily, they had the voicemails recorded so that would provide some good evidence to put Corey away. First they needed to catch him. Two different police precincts wanted him for the questioning. He was dangerous, on the loose. And he wanted Mara. Jace didn’t let Mara finish her reports on the products she tested, and he’d ordered Gio to put taps on the office phones. If they were lucky maybe they could get a regional location for Corey.

  “What’s your favorite movie?” Jace asked suddenly.

  Mara glanced at him in surprise. “Why?”

  “Just curious, I guess. A person’s favorite movie says a lot about them.”

  Mara bit her lip looking suddenly shy. “I don’t know if I have an all-time favorite or anything, but…Steel Magnolias is far up on the list.”

  Jace grinned. “For some reason, I’m not surprised.”

  “And why not?” She was beginning to smile, the haunted look in her eyes fading.

  “Because it’s funny, sweet, ridiculous, and dark. Everything you are.”

  Her smile faded and she looked away. Then her stomach made a loud rumble. “I need to eat. How about you?” she asked.

  His stomach agreed. “I’ll make dinner when we get home.”

  “You can cook?” She looked at him with surprise.

  “I’m no Gordon Ramsay if that’s what you’re asking, but yes, I am capable of cooking a few meals. Why, is that weird to you?”

  She shook her head. “You don’t look like the type that can cook, that’s all.”

  “Didn’t your momma tell you not to judge a book by its cover, Mara?”

 
; “Haha,” she joked, smiling.

  After they got back to his place he started dinner. He made one of his old favorites his momma used to make him—barbequed pork chops slowly roasted in the oven with sides.

  “Why don’t you go take a shower and relax? The TV’s in the living room. Feel free to turn something on,” he offered.

  She gave him a thankful smile and left the kitchen.

  Jace got busy on the food but his mind was wrapped in thoughts of Mara. He was in trouble with that woman. Deep trouble. She had him wrapped around her finger and she didn’t even know it. Thank God; if she learned, she’d find a way to get away from again. He couldn’t have that. Not when being around her felt so right. He and Mara had something. He wasn’t so stupid to not notice or to let it go so easily. He was a fighter and he was prepared to battle Mara, for Mara.

  * * *

  Mara washed the filth from the day down the drain. The hot water helped to make her feel sane and normal. Lately she’d been feeling like her life was caught in a bad movie.

  Corey had called while she was at work. Of course he did. Any time she experienced some sort of pleasure with Jace, Corey had to be there to ruin it. Well she’d been thinking about it all day. The more she thought about it the angrier she became.

  I will not let you control my life, Corey.

  She brushed her wet hair while staring at her reflection in the steamed up mirror.

  I will not let you control me, Corey.

  She had messed up, she realized. She had let Corey come back into her life and scare her and thereby control her. She swore months ago that she’d never let him manipulate her again. Starting right now she was done with his games.

  She was going to be stronger than she ever knew she could be. She didn’t know how to do that yet, but one step at a time.

  First she was going to stop doubting her heart and listen to it. Jace was great, he was really great. He stirred up feelings she’d never experienced before. This warm anticipation built whenever she thought about seeing him, and when she was around him it felt like a dear, close friend was there to support her.